Mother waives hearing in case where 6-year-old found gun in backpack

The mother whose 6-year-old son found a loaded .45-caliber handgun in his backpack at a Monroeville elementary school in April waived her preliminary hearing today, court records show.

Stephanie Roth, 32, who since moved to North Braddock, faces misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of a child and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her formal arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 4.

Ms. Roth's son, a student at Ramsey Elementary in Gateway School District, found the gun April 30 and told his teacher. The gun did not belong to Ms. Roth, her attorney, Owen Seman, said. No one was injured.

"I don't want people to lose sight of the fact that this child did the right thing. ... He didn't show it to other kids at school. He went right to his teacher," Mr. Seman said.

The child's actions speak to Ms. Roth's parenting, he said, adding that despite making "her fair share of mistakes," she's "trying to get her life together."